Some of you may be wondering where I've been for the last little while - I was in the US, seeing a bunch of great new movies, doing some cool interviews and having some much needed R&R. But panic not, for I'm back, fired up and ready to bring you the movie news and reviews you so crave. I'm not quite back to full steam on all the latest movie news so I'll leave that for next post. This time, it's all about one movie you should definitely take the time to check out...

RIP-ROARINGLY ROWDY REVIEW

Tropic Thunder

If you've read my blog before, you're probably aware of how excited I was for this film. While Ben Stiller's performances can be hit or miss, I've always enjoyed the work he's written and directed himself, especially Zoolander, the last time he dove behind the camera. Six years later, Stiller has come out swinging and he has Hollywood square in his sights.

The less you know going into Tropic Thunder, the better, but here are the basics: a rookie director is having great difficulties controlling his difficult actors on the set of a big budget war film, so he takes them out into a real jungle with the intention of making the film guerilla-style. Unfortunately, the actors soon stumble across a genuine conflict...

As I said, the less you know of the plot, the better. The characters are the true comedy of the film, as each is based quite clearly on someone in Hollywood. Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, a Stallone-type action hero who has mined the well one too many times and currently finds himself in career hell. Jack Black plays Jeff "Fats" Portnoy, an Eddie Murphy-ish comedian famous for fat suits and farting. Robert Downey Jr steals the show as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor so dedicated to his craft he has his skin tinted so he can play the unit's African-American sargeant. While this sounds offensive, when seen in context the joke is strong; at no point is the humour derived from his skin colour, but rather the absurd nature of method actors to take things well beyond an acceptable level. In fact, most of the film's comedy is based on the stories we've heard time and time again about pampered, obnoxious directors and studio backroom deals, and if you follow the industry at all, you'll get even more out of the film's subtle, and not so subtle, jabs at the system.

Nick Nolte, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Steve Coogan all put in brilliant performances, while a special mention has to go to both Danny McBride, hot off Pineapple Express, and someone in an extended cameo that I won't spoil for you. It's so good, the actor appears to have practically salvaged his credibility in one shot.

If you like your comedy smart, offensive and funny-as-hell, you won't go wrong with Tropic Thunder.